About Us

Since 2007, we’ve been offering healthy alternatives for local shoppers who care about where their food comes from. We are a hub for fresh, local, organic, and GMO-free products that help to create a sustainable food supply for our community. Many of our vendors live right here in Thurston County, and you may run into them when you visit the store.

Everyone is welcome!

Whether you’ve been a co-op member since birth or are brand new to the concept, our staff can help. All of us are knowledgeable about the products we carry and we’re happy to share that knowledge. You don’t need to be a member to shop here, but you won’t want to miss out on the many benefits of becoming a member. We offer the following services to our community:

  • We accept food stamps
  • We honor other co-op’s memberships.
  • We offer servicemen and women who present military ID or are in uniform member prices and other buying privileges.

Get Involved. Volunteers, also known as Working Members, are the backbone of our organization. They contribute time and energy to everything from cashiering and stocking items to creating signs and helping with special events. Want to get involved?

OUR VISION 

  • To be a central location for our community reflecting values of a healthy lifestyle. 
  • To serve our community by investing in our local food producers and businesses. 
  • To be able to promote the values of organic, healthy foods.
  • To be a place of education for our community with regard to these principles.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to continually grow our organization by educating ourselves and practicing the fundamental principles of cooperation, membership service and community service on an ongoing basis.

We are a community-owned grocery store that serves the community’s needs, not the needs of big corporations. We source our products as close to home as possible. By sourcing locally and selling sustainable and natural products, The Yelm Food Coop keeps our community’s money in the local economy, which promotes local independence.

OUR STAFF

  • Alex Dowell – Cashier
  • Brenda Hough – Shift Lead
  • Christina Hoelzer – Shift Lead
  • Debera Ricalde – Assistant Manager
  • Diane D’Acuti – Cashier
  • Emily Ranken – Store Manager
  • Florence Vincent – Buyer /

    Merchandiser
  • Glenadine O’Harra – Cashier
  • Isagani Ricalde – Cashier
  • Jutta Dewell – Store Manager
  • Marc Hannon – Cashier
  • Margaret Gilbride – Wine
  • Department Manager
  • Michael Burke – Shift Lead
  • Michaela Perkins – Cashier
  • Ute Christine Jarlik – Floor Manager

How are we doing financially?

Daily totals from the pont of sale system

Expenses updated the third week of the next month.

Supporting Our Local Producers

Birthday Pictures!

In case you missed the celebration, here are some pictures; Cat and Fiddle made our 17th Birthday Cakes. Lemon, Carrot, Chocolate and Hazelnut not shown. This recipe from chef Jamie Oliver was a huge success, we’re going to have to make it again! This one is such a...

Soursop, Dragon Fruit and Passion Fruit Juices

Customers tell us that Soursop is very healing, so when we found it, along with Dragon Juice and Passion Juice we thought we should give them all a try. While the information below is regarding the fresh fruit, we hope it will be useful. We hope to sample them during...

Is this food expired?

Dress It Up Dressings

We’ve been searching for weeks for clean salad dressing sachets to go with our new salad and spring mix clam shells, to no avail! Somehow Emily found Dress it Up dressings. We ordered some of their bottles too, as the ingredients are so clean. While the sachets...

Hummingbird Organic Awakened Nut Trio and Organic Dark Chocolate Tropical Blend

We wiil be bagging these bad boys up for you. Hummingbird Organic Awakened Nut Trio and Organic Dark Chocolate Tropical Blend

Foods Alive Agar

It’s been a while since we’ve had Agar in the store. It’s a vegan alternative to animal based gelatin.

Dancing Goats Coffee Organic Whirling Dervish DeCaf

We’ve been needing a good DeCaf for a while. Here’s some Dancing Goats Coffee Organic Whirling Dervish DeCaf.

Seltzers Smokehouse Meats, Original Lebanon Bologna.

We’ve had customer requests for Bologna. This one is a family favorite so we thought we’d bring it in for you. Seltzers Smokehouse Meats, Original Lebanon Bologna.  

Applaws Natural Cat Food

When we first saw this we thought it was human food! The 4 ingredients were so simple, but it’s actually cat food. Applaws Natural Cat Food, Chicken Breast with Duck in Broth.

Saturday April 27th Birthday Menu 1-6pm

Your Co-op’s 17th Birthday Menu “Le Saut du Doubs” Comté Cheese with Cherry Tomatoes & Parsley GF Il Porcellion Salumi Bresaola with Ferndale Asiago Cheese GF Schaller & Weber Chicken Liver Pâté with Rice Thins GF Wookey Hole Cheddar with Local Honey &...